Reds can't take advantage of late chances, lose to Pirates 5-4 on Marte's 2 impressive plays

By JOE KAY AP Sports WriterJuly 31, 2015 - 11:36 pm EDT

CINCINNATI — Starling Marte threw out Brandon Phillips at the plate for the second out in the ninth. Then he made a diving catch to end it.

Marte helped the Pirates' retooled bullpen hold on for a 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, Pittsburgh's first in five games at Great American Ball Park this season.

"In this case, we didn't beat ourselves," manager Bryan Price said. "They went out and won the game."

Andrew McCutchen hit yet another homer at GABP, connecting off Michael Lorenzen (3-6), and Jung Ho Kang had three doubles and drove in a run to support Jeff Locke (6-6). The left-hander lasted five innings and turned it over to the rebuilt bullpen.

That's when it got interesting.

Former Tigers closer Joakim Soria arrived a few hours before the game and slipped into his new role as setup man. He loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh — a pair of walks got him in trouble — but snagged Brayan Pena's liner over his head to end the threat.

"Survive!" Soria said. "See the ball and get the glove on it. It's never easy and sometimes you've got to react to the situation."

Melancon needed Marte's help twice in the ninth to keep his club-record save streak intact — now 31 in a row.

He gave up a single to Phillips and walked Joey Votto with one out. Todd Frazier singled to left, but Marte nailed Phillips at the plate. Marte then made a diving catch of Marlon Byrd's liner, preserving Melancon's 33rd save in 34 chances overall.

Before the game, Pittsburgh acquired left-handed starter J.A. Happ from Seattle on Friday as a stopgap with A.J. Burnett going on the disabled list. The Pirates also picked up infielder Michael Morse from Los Angeles, giving them a platoon option at first base to complement left-handed slugger Pedro Alvarez.